SBR shop, cars escapes fire

CALTEX FALCON ESCAPES FIRE
The Caltex Falcon of V8 Supercar Champion Russell Ingall was
only metres away from a raging fire which engulfed an
adjoining building and threatened race team facilities at
Yatala in Queensland this morning.
A...

CALTEX FALCON ESCAPES FIRE

The Caltex Falcon of V8 Supercar Champion Russell Ingall was
only metres away from a raging fire which engulfed an
adjoining building and threatened race team facilities at
Yatala in Queensland this morning.

A carpet warehouse directly behind the Stone Brothers Racing
workshop where the Caltex Falcon is prepared, was destroyed
in the blaze, which saw more than 50 SBR staff evacuated from
the facility.

The fire threatened the SBR buildings and surrounding
businesses, but was quickly contained by fire crews and
emergency services.

"It all sounds like it was a bit too close for comfort up at
the workshop this morning," said Ingall, who received the
news while in interstate.

"It could have been a pretty disastrous day for everyone at
Caltex Racing, but the fire crews and emergency service guys
apparently did a fantastic job to keep it contained.

"There is millions of dollars worth of equipment at the
shop, but the championship car holds an enormous amount of
sentimental value for everyone in the team.

"It just goes to show how quickly things can turn around,
thankfully everything is OK and nobody was hurt."

SBR boss Ross Stone said that the Caltex team's preparation
for Russell Ingall's defence of the V8 Supercar title would
not be affected by today's drama.

"They kept the fire contained and the only thing we suffered
was some heat to the rear wall of one of our buildings,"
said Stone.

"It was a close call but everybody is okay. We will get back
to the business of race cars on Monday and our bid to win a
fourth straight V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2006."

The Caltex Racing livery for the 2006 season, inclusive the
number one plate on the door, is set to be launched in the
coming weeks.

Ingall will race the "number 1" Caltex Falcon for the first
time at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 24-26.